Re: National Assembly’ll back extension of teachers retirement age…

The above story was published in The Nation newspapers of Thursday June 1, 2017  and a few other newspapers. The National president of the Nigerian Union of teachers NUT, Michael Alogba Olukoya, when he led NUT officials to the Speaker of the parliament Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary […]

The above story was published in The Nation newspapers of Thursday June 1, 2017  and a few other newspapers.

The National president of the Nigerian Union of teachers NUT, Michael Alogba Olukoya, when he led NUT officials to the Speaker of the parliament Mr. Yakubu Dogara, said “We teachers of Nigeria in primary and secondary schools seek and demand that our retirement age be raised to 65 years to increase the teacher retention rate in our schools.”

However, the request for extension of retirement age at this time is misplaced and untimely, this is because there are more important issues that need urgent attention, than demanding a frivolous extension of retirement age for Nigerian teachers under this uncertain economic situation and unfriendly working conditions.

In France, The Telegraph reports in 2010 that tens of thousands of French workers took to the streets to protest against government plans to raise the retirement age. On the other hand, however, their counterparts in Nigeria are demanding for extension.

NUT should demand for improved welfare and working condition of teachers, a workable pension scheme and affordable healthcare system for teachers, hazard allowance and other allowances.

And also training and retraining of teachers, special salaries, provision of latest laboratory kits, and state of the art facilities are what is required, not teachers perpetual slavery in the name of retirement extension and starvation wage they received as minimum wage!

The National Assembly should enact laws that will guarantee those items and ensure effective implementation of the above mentioned welfares for teachers. Longevity in the service is not the solution but a better deal!

Abdullateef Tanko A., [email protected]